South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds opposes IM 10

In South Dakota, the governor announced October 10 that he was opposed to Initiated Measure 10, the ballot measure that would ban political contributions by a large part of the state's citizens. The committee that sponsored IM-10 doesn't reveal the sources of its funding, but measures very similar to this one have sprung up in Alaska and Colorado, funded in various ways by the real estate millionaire Howie Rich.

The Sioux Falls Argus Leader covered the governor's announcement.

PIERRE - Initiated Measure 10 on the November ballot would "do a large amount of damage" to South Dakota by discouraging participation in the political process, Gov. Mike Rounds said Thursday. Rounds told the South Dakota Municipal League that he thinks the measure would bar cities, counties and schools from using associations such as the Municipal League to lobby the Legislature on their issues. "I think I'm calling it pretty straight," he said after the appearance.

The measure would restrict political donations by people with state contracts and by people related to them, would ban government-funded lobbying and would require a state Web site operated by the secretary of state and containing all state contracts.

The measure's sponsors say it would prevent political influence from playing a part in state contracts and would stop the use of taxpayer money for lobbying and political campaigns. Rounds said the measure might block owners of any business that made even a modest sale to a government agency from making political contributions.

Rounds warns of `damage' from Initiated Measure 10
Argus Leader (Sioux Falls, SD) - October 10, 2008

According to a representative of the coalition working to defeat IM-10, almost 60 statewide organizations are working together against it, including many whose lawyers have read the measure and advised against it.